Complex forces

Of course, that was just talk. The Pill Alliance had existed in the Great Xia Dynasty for thousands of years; how could it possibly be crushed by mere Spirit Stones?

In the end, the victory between the two sides would still depend on the top-tier combat Power of both parties.

“I shall obey the Sect Master's command,” Si Xiuqi replied with a bow.

Qin Ming nodded and left the Huayu Sect headquarters.

As soon as Qin Ming left, the Huayu Sect immediately sprang into action. Some moved supplies while others relayed orders; everyone had a clear division of labor and worked very quickly.

For a moment, every Martial Artist in Stone City could feel that the Huayu Sect was on the move… Inside a basement, Zhang Chongtian was bowing low, looking at the old man in front of him with fear and trepidation.

This old man had white hair and a white beard, but his Aura was terrifying. Sitting cross-legged on a stone platform, he was like a towering mountain.

“What did you say? The Venerable is dead?” The old man’s eyes were blood-red as he glared at Zhang Chongtian. His entire Aura erupted, making Zhang Chongtian shudder violently.

“Even the Venerable is dead, so why aren't you?” The old man suddenly extended his hand and delivered a slap. The movement wasn't fast, but Zhang Chongtian didn't dare dodge at all, and the heavy blow landed squarely on his terrified face.

Zhang Chongtian was sent flying, rolling seven or eight meters away. Blood seeped from the corner of his mouth, but he didn't dare wipe it. He scrambled back to the old man's feet on all fours, crying out, “Old Ancestor, I didn't want this either! But Qin Ming hid himself too deeply. He clearly has the strength of a Venerable, yet he played us like fools.”

He naturally couldn't tell the Old Ancestor the truth. If the Old Ancestor knew this disaster was caused by his own greed for Qin Ming's divine artifact alchemy furnace, the Old Ancestor would have struck him dead with a single palm.

His original plan was to take in Jue Xin and seize the divine artifact alchemy furnace for himself, but then Qin Ming had come knocking on his door.

He naturally wouldn't hand over the divine artifact alchemy furnace he had already obtained, and he had also set his sights on the Huayu Sect’s Power, thinking of how to take their territory. He hadn't expected that while Qin Ming looked like a tiger, he had actually tried to be a tiger-hunting hero only to find he was fighting a Dragon.

And it was a man-eating Dragon at that; he had truly lost both his bait and the fish.

The white-haired old man raised his palm, wanting to strike him down, but then he reconsidered. This was his descendant after all, and he had usually done a decent job.

If he killed him now, there would be no one left to manage the Pill Alliance for him. Suppressing his killing intent, he said, “Get up. I will give you a chance to redeem yourself. Go and investigate Qin Ming's background thoroughly for me. Do not leave out a single detail.”

“Yes, yes!” Joy appeared on Zhang Chongtian's face. He had truly been afraid that the Old Ancestor would kill him with one strike.

After all, they had lost over two hundred Martial Emperors and one Martial Venerable. More than half of the Pill Alliance's experts had been squandered by him in one go.

If not for the fact that there were still two Martial Venerables holding the fort, the other Powers of the Great Xia Dynasty would likely have kicked them while they were down.

Although the Pill Alliance was a Top Faction of the Great Xia Dynasty, there were many other Powers that were equal to or only slightly weaker than them.

There was the Jue Ming Pavilion which traded across the world, the Five Great Families of Yan City, the top Righteous Path Sects—the Zhengqi Sect and Zhengxin Sect—the top Demonic Path Sect—the Heavenly Demon Sect—and the hidden Sect, the Flame Sect.

If these Powers saw that the Pill Alliance was weak, they would definitely not mind taking a bite out of it.

Fortunately, there were still two Martial Venerables within the Pill Alliance. These Powers didn't want a desperate struggle to the death, so they remained still for now, not daring to act on their ill intentions.